Driver sentenced 0
STEPHEN UHLER A Petawawa man received a six-month conditional sentence in Pembroke court Tuesday. Luke Watson pleaded guilty to the charge of dangerous operation of a vehicle following a high-speed crash at the intersection of Pembroke Street West and Crandall Street in October, 2011.
A Petawawa man who is lucky to be alive following a horrific motorcycle crash received a six-month conditional sentence in Pembroke court Tuesday.
Luke Watson, 30, of 4040 Dundonald Dr., Petawawa, previously pleaded guilty to the charge of dangerous operation of a vehicle following a high-speed crash at the intersection of Pembroke Street West and Crandall Street on Oct. 28, 2011.
According to Crown attorney Jason Nicol witnesses informed police Mr. Watson was travelling between 140 and 160 kilometres per hour while driving eastbound on Pembroke Street West before colliding with an SUV at the intersection.
“How Mr. Watson wasn’t killed is shocking and how he didn’t kill someone else is shocking,” Mr. Nicol said. “Especially at the speed he was travelling. It is unbelievable.”
He was seriously injured in the collision, which sent him flying over the windshield of the SUV. The only thing that saved him, according to Mr. Nicol was the point of impact on the other vehicle. The driver of the SUV was not injured, and his 16-year-old daughter, who was a passenger, received only minor injuries.
Mr. Watson’s lawyer indicated her client was pronounced dead at the scene and was in a coma for seven days, followed by a lengthy stay in hospital.
“His body has been his living prison since the accident,” she said.
She added that while Mr. Watson has no recollection of the events leading up to the collision, when he feels a deep sense of regret from what she described as a serious transgression.
Through the six-month conditional sentence, which includes the first three months under house arrest, Justice Grant Radley-Walters hopes others will get the message that people can not drive in this dangerous fashion and go without punishment.
During the six-month sentence, Mr. Watson must abstain from the purchase, possession, consumption and use of alcohol and other intoxicating substances, abstain from owning or possessing s firearms and complete 20 hours of community services. Justice Radley-Walters also ordered Mr. Watson pay $500 in restitution to the driver of the SUV to cover his deductible.
The sentence is followed by 18 months probation.
“The severity of the collision warrants this,” the judge added.
Tina Peplinskie is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist
Twitter: @TPeplinskieOBS
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